Is It Bad to Have a TV in Your Bedroom? Reddit Weighs In
Is it bad to have a TV in your bedroom? Reddit's honest answer: no, it's not "bad," it's a preference. Threads on r/malelivingspace, r/AskUK and r/LivingAlone split roughly into "it's my comfort zone, leave me alone" and "I took it out and my room finally felt like a bedroom." What actually matters is whether the TV fits your room or swallows it.
If your TV wall is the reason your room looks like a waiting area instead of your space, RoomMaxx scores the vibe from one photo and gives you one fix a day. Scan my room
What Reddit is split on
Scroll through any "TV in bedroom yes or no" thread and you'll see the same two camps on repeat.
Team TV: people who live alone, share a flat or house, or don't have a living room they actually like. For them the bedroom is the living room. Watching a show in bed after a long shift is the whole point.
Team No TV: people who say the bedroom should be for sleeping and chilling, and that a big black rectangle on the wall makes the room feel like a sports bar.
The interesting bit: almost nobody on Reddit says it's weird either way. "Is it normal to have a TV in your bedroom?" Yes. "Is it weird to not have a TV in your bedroom?" Also no. Plenty of people just watch on a laptop or phone now.
| Reddit argument | Team TV says | Team No TV says |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | "My bed is the comfiest seat I own" | "I want one room with no screen" |
| Space | "Saves me from the shared lounge" | "It eats a whole wall" |
| Looks | "A mounted TV looks clean" | "It's the first thing you see" |
| Habits | "I fall asleep to a show, it's fine" | "I scrolled AND watched until 2am" |
We'll keep this non-medical: if you've noticed your own sleep or focus is off when the TV's on late, that's worth listening to. Otherwise it's about the room.
Reasons people love a bedroom TV
Living in a shared house or student flat
In a student house (UK) or a dorm or apartment with roommates (US/Canada), the lounge is often loud, messy or claimed by someone's Xbox. A TV in your room means you can watch what you want without negotiating.
Gaming setups
For a lot of guys and girls, the TV is part of a cozy gaming corner. The console, the TV and a beanbag basically are the vibe.
It's the only screen big enough
Some people genuinely don't want to watch a film on a 13-inch laptop. Fair.
Reasons people ditch it
- It dominates small rooms. In a box room or dorm, a 50-inch screen can be the biggest object after the bed.
- The "black hole" effect. When it's off, a TV is a giant dark rectangle. It pulls your eye every time you walk in.
- Cable spaghetti. Power strip, HDMI, console cables, a soundbar. It adds a lot of visual clutter.
- They want a room that feels calm. A lot of "I removed my TV" posts are really "I wanted my bedroom to feel different from the rest of my life."
If you're on the fence, try a one-week test: unplug it, throw a blanket over it, and see if you miss it. That's free and gives you a real answer instead of a vibe.
If you keep it: TV placement in a bedroom that doesn't dominate
So you're keeping it. Good. Here's how to make a TV in your bedroom look intentional, not like it fell off a truck.
Where to put the TV in a bedroom
- Opposite the bed, but not dead center if the room is tiny. Slightly off-center toward the corner often frees up wall for art or a mirror.
- Eye level when you're sitting up in bed, not when you're standing. That's usually a bit higher than in a living room.
- Not on the wall you see first when you open the door. If the door opens to face the TV, the TV becomes the room. Put it on a side wall if you can.
TV on a dresser vs wall mount
- Dresser: easy, renter-friendly, no holes. Keep the top clear except for the TV and one small thing (a plant or lamp), or it turns into a clutter shelf.
- Wall mount: cleaner, but ask a parent or landlord first. Lots of rentals and halls of residence won't allow it.
What's the best size TV for a bedroom?
Smaller than you think. A TV that would look normal in a living room often feels huge in a bedroom. In a small bedroom or dorm, a smaller screen keeps the room feeling like a room.
Manage the cables
Use a cable sleeve or tape the cables down the back of the dresser leg. Hiding the power strip behind the dresser is the single fastest "why does this look nicer" fix.
Can't tell if your TV wall is actually the problem, or if it's the clothes chair next to it? That's the part that's hard to judge when you're in the room every day. RoomMaxx scores your room from a photo across tidy, light and vibe, so you can see which one is dragging it down, and the photo is never saved. Scan my room
How to hide a TV in your bedroom when it's off
Here's the trick most Reddit threads miss: the TV is only a problem when it's off.
- Use a TV art or ambient mode if yours has one, so it shows a picture instead of a black screen.
- Drape a throw or tapestry over it or hang one above that drops down. Cheap and very dorm-friendly.
- Put it inside a cabinet or wardrobe nook if you have one.
- Balance it. Hang a mirror, a poster or a row of photos on the opposite or side wall so the screen isn't the only thing on the walls.
- Lighting behind it. A warm LED strip behind the TV softens the black rectangle at night. Keep it warm, not neon blue. (We also cover dark-room setups in why do I like my room dark.)
Is it bad feng shui to have a TV in your bedroom?
In feng shui tradition, a TV (and mirrors) facing the bed is often said to be unrestful, and the usual tip is to cover it at night. You don't have to believe in feng shui to use the advice: covering the screen at night makes the room look calmer, which is reason enough.
Alternatives: projector, laptop or no TV at all
Projector vs TV in your bedroom
A small projector pointed at a blank wall or ceiling gives you movie night without a permanent screen. When it's off, the wall is just a wall. The downside: you need a mostly dark room and the picture is softer.
Laptop on a bed tray
Probably the most common student setup. It disappears into a drawer when you're done, which is the cleanest option for a tiny room.
No TV
A bedroom without a TV frees up a wall for a reading nook, a desk or just breathing space. If your room already feels boxy, losing the screen can help a lot; see my room feels like a prison for more fixes.
So, is it bad to have a TV in your bedroom? Reddit's final verdict
Not bad, not weird, not required. The Reddit consensus on "is it bad to have a TV in your bedroom" comes down to: keep it if you use it, place it so it isn't the first thing you see, and hide it when it's off. If you barely watch it, try a week without and see how the room feels.
See what your TV wall is doing to your score
Take one photo of your room and you'll get a Room Score out of 100 for tidy, light and vibe in about a minute. Then RoomMaxx gives you one small, free or cheap fix a day aimed at your lowest score, and you rescan to watch it climb. One payment, nothing to cancel.
FAQ
Is it OK to have a TV in your room as a teenager?
Yes, lots of teens have one. The main things are agreeing house rules with your parents and making sure it doesn't take over a small room. A smaller screen and a clear dresser top go a long way.
Should you have a TV in your bedroom if you live in a dorm?
Check your dorm or hall rules first, since some limit size or mounting. Most students get by with a laptop or a small TV on a dresser, plus a throw to hide it when it's off.
Is it weird to not have a TV in your bedroom?
Not at all. Many people watch everything on a laptop or phone now, and a bedroom without a TV is common, especially in small rooms and student housing.
Is having a TV in your room bad, according to Reddit?
Reddit mostly says it's personal. People who love it use their room as a living room; people who removed it say the room felt calmer. Nobody can answer it for you, so try a week without and decide.
How do I make a TV in my bedroom look aesthetic?
Hide the cables, keep the surface under it clear, add warm light behind or beside it, and balance it with something on another wall. Use ambient mode or a throw when it's off.